Our Philosophy
Our Philosophy is that it is not necessary to use chemicals in everyday life. That there is often a natural remedy for a problem. Processed foods are less nutritious and unhealthier, than natural real food. Hidden chemicals or split ingredients hide the true nutritional value of food we feed our dogs. (& ourselves) Below is some information about providing a more natural lifestyle for your dog.
DOG FOOD
Poisonous Food For Dogs
It is important to know what "Human Food" could cause your dog harm.
Here is a list of foods that are deemed poisonous to dogs and how to tell if your dog is in distress.
Symptoms
Here is a list of foods that are deemed poisonous to dogs and how to tell if your dog is in distress.
Symptoms
- Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack of urine production), weakness and drunken gait.
- Onset of signs typically occurs within 24 hours (though they can start just a few hours after consumption)
- Your vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care - particularly fluid therapy and medications.
No No Food List
|
Alcohol
I’m sure you’ve heard of the birthday parties where the dog accidentally gets into some of the spilled keg beer, and then gets all silly to the amusement of the crowd. While it may be funny to you, it’s not funny to your dog. Alcohol can cause not only intoxication, lack of coordination, poor breathing, and abnormal acidity, but potentially even coma and/or death
Hops
An ingredient in beer that can be toxic to your dog. The consumption of hops by your dog can cause panting, an increased heart rate, fever, seizures, and even death.
Spoiled Food
Moldy or rotten foods can cause many problems for your dog, some more serious than others. Any food that seems "past its prime" should be kept out reach. Be especially careful to keep your dog away from trash cans. Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, constipation, and urine retention. An antitoxin is effective only if poisoning is caught early enough. Rotten fruit produces ethanol, causing the same effects associated with alcohol or dough ingestion. Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and drunkenness. Therapy depends on the toxin. Your vet may induce vomiting. Sometimes, treatment includes activated charcoal. Supportive care with fluids and medications is often necessary. Apple Cores
While most people try to avoid eating the core of an apple, it's actually much more toxic to dogs. Along with a few other fruits, you should definitely be careful not to leave apple cores laying around for dogs to get their paws on.
What's In It: The core of an apple (as well as plums, peaches, pears and apricots) contain cyanogenic glycosides which is also known as cyanide. What It Can Do: Some of the symptoms that come from ingesting the toxin are dizziness, struggling to breath, seizures, collapsing, hyperventilation, shock and even coma. Other Foods To Avoid
Certain foods, while not considered toxic, can still be unhealthy for your dog. Avoid any foods that are high in fat, sugar or sodium. These foods can contribute to indigestion, obesity, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and more. Dairy products may be difficult for dogs to digest. Corn cobs and bones can cause GI obstruction. Cooked bones may splinter and break easily, risking GI damage.Like people, too much junk food can cause poor condition and decreased energy. Remember that your dog is smaller than you and may be sensitive. What seems like "just a bite" for you is more like a small meal for your dog. If you want to feed homemade food, seek advice from your vet. You may wish to meet with a nutritionist for diet recommendations. |
It should also be noted that the amount of damage these foods can do vary on the specific breeds and sizes of your dogs. Like humans, all dogs are different and can react differently to foods. Though it's better to keep them away from these foods just for good measure.
Resources
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/tp/toxicfood.htm
http://stst.io/GSCo9b6tj3nwtfAnh
http://www.caninejournal.com/foods-not-to-feed-dog/
http://stst.io/GSCo9b6tj3nwtfAnh
http://www.caninejournal.com/foods-not-to-feed-dog/
*******************************
Processed Dog Food
When researching processed dog food, we were shocked about what was in it. Now we realize that they are dogs and will eat anything, usually, but just because they will eat crap, literally, it does not mean that they will live healthy lives on a diet of it. Some companies even take an ingredient and split it into its parts, and label the parts as separate ingredients. Although their ingredient list is correct, it deceives the purchaser into believing that it is lower in the original ingredient. This also happens in human processed food. The following is a list of ingredients and their meanings.
Common Pet Food Ingredients
- Meat by-products are parts of slaughtered animals that don't include meat. These include lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth, or hooves. The definition for meat by-products by the Association of American Feed Control Officials is:
The non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hoofs. It shall be suitable for use in animal food. If it bears name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto. (IE. Chicken By product is Chicken, Beef By product is Beef, Meat by product is any meat source, so "mystery meat" by product.
A new category of pet food typically marketed as holistic, wellness, organic, ultra healthy, and/or simply premium pet food often emphasizes the use of human-grade meat sources only, with no animal meat by-products.
- AAFCO has declared that using the term "human grade" is "false and misleading" to quote AAFCO in a letter sent to pet food manufacturers in (March 2004) Section IV – Pet Food Label Claims – Page 66 Section E. "Claims that a product contains or is made from ingredients that are “human grade”, “human quality”, “people foods”, “ingredients you (the purchaser) would eat” “food(s) that you (the purchaser) would feed your family” or similar claims are false and misleading..." Note that AAFCO actually has no official definition of human grade ingredients.
The AAFCO only governs the pet food packaging and has no authority over websites or advertising. Companies making this claim, do so on websites or other advertising, but they never do so on the package which AAFCO governs. ISO has published a series of standards regarding the products of the topic and these standards are covered by ICS 67.120.10.[4]
- Meat and bone meal (MBM) is a product of the rendering industry. It is typically about 48 - 52% protein, 33-35% ash, 8-12% fat, and 4-7% moisture. It is primarily used in the formulation of animal feed to improve theamino acid profile of the feed. Feeding of MBM to cattle is thought to have been responsible for the spread of BSE (mad cow disease). In most parts of the world, MBM is no longer allowed in feed for ruminant animals. However, in some areas, including the US, MBM is still used to feed monogastric animals. It is widely used in the United States as a low-cost meat in dog food and cat food. [1]
In Europe, some MBM is used as ingredients in petfood but the vast majority is now used as a fossil-fuel replacement for renewable energy generation, as a fuel in cement kilns, landfilling or incineration.
Meat and bone meal has around two thirds the energy value of fossil fuels such as coal; the UK in particular widely uses meat and bone meal for the generation of renewable electricity. This was particularly prominent after many cattle were slaughtered during the BSE crisis. - Choline Chloride
- Choline chloride is mass-produced and is an important additive in feed especially for-chickens where it accelerates growth. With urea it forms a deep eutectic solvent. Other commercial choline salts are choline hydroxide and choline bitartrate. In foodstuffs the compound is often present as phosphatidylcholine.
Lecithin
Lecithin can easily be extracted chemically (using hexane, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether, benzene, etc.) or mechanically. It is usually available from sources such as soy beans, eggs, milk, marine sources, rapeseed, cottonseed, and sunflower. It has low solubility in water, but is an excellent emulsifier. In aqueous solution, its phospholipids can form either liposomes, bilayer sheets, micelles, or lamellar structures, depending on hydration and temperature. This results in a type of surfactant that usually is classified as amphipathic. Lecithin is sold as a food supplement and for medical uses. In cooking, it is sometimes used as an emulsifier and to prevent sticking, for example in nonstick cooking spray.
For a very insightful look into the pet food industry please watch the documentary "Pet Fooled".
Ingredients You May Not of Heard Of...
But Will Not Hurt Your Dog
Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid widely distributed in animal tissues. It is a major constituent of bile and can be found in the large intestine and accounts for approximately 0.1% of total human body weight. Taurine has many fundamental biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization and modulation of calcium signaling. It is essential forcardiovascular function, and development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina and the central nervous system. Taurine is unusual among biological molecules in being a sulfonic acid, while the vast majority of biologically occurring acids contain the more weakly acidic carboxyl group. While taurine is sometimes called an amino acid, and indeed is an acid containing an amino group, it is not an amino acid in the usual biochemical meaning of the term, which refers to compounds containing both an amino and a carboxyl group.
It is necessary to supplement a Raw diet for cats with Taurine.
It is necessary to supplement a Raw diet for cats with Taurine.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org
**********************************************************
Why Feed Raw Food Explained by Our Suppliers.
Big Country Raw!!!
A raw diet provides a range of benefits that a commercially processed diet will never match.These include:Your dog will no longer have that distinctive doggie odour.
Shiny Coats & No More Doggie Odour
The numerous preservatives and additives and animal byproducts in your pet's commercially prepared food results in dull coats with a greasy residue and distinctive “doggie” odour.BigCountry Raw contains NO preservatives,or additives. We only use fresh human grade ingredients, which will produce shiny soft skin and coats with loads of shine and a lot less shedding.
Less to Scoop
BigCountry Raw contains NO Fillers, NO Corn and NO Wheat. Free of fillers and preservatives a raw natural diet is more digestible and therefore less waste is eliminated. Stools are firm, formed and will biodegrade into your lawn in a matter of days!
Allergies and Food Sensitivities are Eliminated
Switching to BigCountry Raw may diminish and ease the various health symptoms particularly food allergies. Our diets are protein specific and our sensitivity formulas such as duck, rabbit, turkey or lamb may be the answer to solving your pet's allergic reactions (continual scratching, chewing feet, hot spots, ear infections etc.) Additionally many raw fed dogs have fewer health issues, meaning less expensive vet appointments.
Clean Teeth
Poor dental health particularly the build up of plaque and tartar is very common with a commercial dry dog food. BigCountry Raw contains no added carbohydrates and a food without sugar and starches will naturally produce cleaner teeth. In addition the raw meaty bones in a raw feeding program will clean teeth to a beautiful pearly white and prevent unnecessary health concerns due to diseased teeth.
Drooling and Water Intake
With better digestibility your pet will no longer require the excessive amounts of water necessary to break down a dry food diet. In addition this will mean less drooling and improved liver and kidney functions extending the overall long term health of your pet.
A raw diet provides a range of benefits that a commercially processed diet will never match.These include:Your dog will no longer have that distinctive doggie odour.
Shiny Coats & No More Doggie Odour
The numerous preservatives and additives and animal byproducts in your pet's commercially prepared food results in dull coats with a greasy residue and distinctive “doggie” odour.BigCountry Raw contains NO preservatives,or additives. We only use fresh human grade ingredients, which will produce shiny soft skin and coats with loads of shine and a lot less shedding.
Less to Scoop
BigCountry Raw contains NO Fillers, NO Corn and NO Wheat. Free of fillers and preservatives a raw natural diet is more digestible and therefore less waste is eliminated. Stools are firm, formed and will biodegrade into your lawn in a matter of days!
Allergies and Food Sensitivities are Eliminated
Switching to BigCountry Raw may diminish and ease the various health symptoms particularly food allergies. Our diets are protein specific and our sensitivity formulas such as duck, rabbit, turkey or lamb may be the answer to solving your pet's allergic reactions (continual scratching, chewing feet, hot spots, ear infections etc.) Additionally many raw fed dogs have fewer health issues, meaning less expensive vet appointments.
Clean Teeth
Poor dental health particularly the build up of plaque and tartar is very common with a commercial dry dog food. BigCountry Raw contains no added carbohydrates and a food without sugar and starches will naturally produce cleaner teeth. In addition the raw meaty bones in a raw feeding program will clean teeth to a beautiful pearly white and prevent unnecessary health concerns due to diseased teeth.
Drooling and Water Intake
With better digestibility your pet will no longer require the excessive amounts of water necessary to break down a dry food diet. In addition this will mean less drooling and improved liver and kidney functions extending the overall long term health of your pet.
VIDEOGRAPHER - RODNEY HABIB - PLANET PAWS
Rodney is a Videographer, & Pet Food Advocate, from Nova Scotia, Canada.
He has travelled the world to teach others about the pet food industry.
Below are examples of some of his work. Please follow Rodney on Social Media to learn more!!
He has travelled the world to teach others about the pet food industry.
Below are examples of some of his work. Please follow Rodney on Social Media to learn more!!
Plastic Dog Toys
|
Dental Chew Toys such as nyla bone, contain small pieces of plastic to "scrub" off the tartar on the dogs teeth, while they chew on these "treats". The plastic is then ingested by the dog. These pieces of plastic, not only scrub their teeth but their intestines as well. There are many more natural products that are more beneficial for your dogs dental health.
|
|
Rawhide
|
Rawhide consists of processed cow hide. This hide is not quality for leather, but treated very similarly. It is preserved with formaldehyde, bleached, rolled into shapes, glued into these shapes, and dried. They are sometimes coloured with poisonous dyes or artificial flavours. A better alternative to what is known as rawhide, would be pork hide; raw, rolled and dried.
|
|